Spain - Day Three (unabridged)
[caption id=”attachment_167” align=”alignleft” width=”134” caption=”Train ride from Toledo to Barcelona”]
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We have arrived in Barcelona via the AVE train (which travels at 185 mph) and I am now resting quietly in our apartment, where we will spend the next three days. After a hectic whirlwind of Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, we can finally unpack without worrying about having to stuff everything back into our backpacks right away the next morning.
One thing that we had not quite taken very seriously before arriving in Spain is the effect that the Siesta time has on just about everything you do. Shops don’t open in the morning until at least 8AM, if not 9:30, cafeterias and tapas bars do most of their business from 2-4 in the afternoon and restaurants usually don’t open or at least don’t get busy until after 9PM. For people who are used to getting up and getting everything done in a day before 7PM, this is quite a change. But by now, we’re starting to get the hang of it. Go out and do everything that you want to do, then come back to your room and rest up before heading out for the night. This certainly came into play in Toledo.
Initially, the crowded streets and alleyways were driving us crazy. Half the time, it seemed like we were going in circles and it took forever to find out where we wanted to go.
[caption id=”attachment_169” align=”aligncenter” width=”210” caption=”Overlooking the Tagus River in Toledo”]
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By the end of the day, though, after scouring the dusty town for historic sights, enjoying a great dinner and taking to the streets again at night, we were well satisfied with the time we spent there.
Most of the places to see were more historic than stunning, save for the Toledo Cathedral. The town was history piled on top of history, layered with a slapdash of modernity.
[caption id=”attachment_171” align=”alignleft” width=”180” caption=”Toledo Cathedral “]
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Some of the historic buildings, such as the Alcazar (fortress) were under construction, which is understandable, but kind of sucked from the perspective of three tourists who came halfway around the world to see them. But the feel of the town alone was something to behold. It was always alive and teeming, even though so many of the buildings are ancient. As someone who grew up in a country where something that is old is typically less than 200 years old, it was definitely different to be surrounded by an entire town whose buildings are almost all nearly 2-3 times that, if not more.
